THE ORIGIN AND USE OF COPYMARKS IN ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING

The recent popularity of desktop publishing has drawn attention to computer composition systems and document interchange standards. The paper begins with an historical review of copymarking and a conceptual description of the various types of copymarks. The basic categories of copymarks are described and related to the functions of composition systems. From this categorisation a taxonomy of copymarks is developed. Final form and revisable form document interchange standards continue to evolve. Revisable form document interchange standards are in essence copymark standards. As document interchange standards develop, some questions are being raised about the basis for the standards. Do we know enough about documents, copymarks, and composition systems to develop durable standards? Others have asked whether at more fundamental levels we know enough about documents and copymarking. Implications for future research on documents and document processing are described. Issues in the development of interchange standards and conversion systems are reviewed.